Family 2-17 through 2-21

This week is a busy one for many of our students who are participating in the fair. We'd like to wish all of our students and families the best on their livestock and plants. If you have a chance to visit the fair this week you may also see artwork displayed by Ms. Sarlo's class and a large haybale/hat display created by Ms. Brown's class.

I'd also like to acknowledge the huge success of our boys and girls basketball teams this season. They have had a great start (undefeated) and displayed wonderful sportsmanship.

Best of luck to our competition cheer team this week. They are participating in a showcase this week as they prepare for their district competition.

Check out this week’s athletics schedule and come out to support our students! Let’s pack the stands with school spirit and cheer our athletes to victory! 🎉🔥

📅 This Week’s Schedule:

• Harmony vs Neptune

  🗓 Date: Feb 18

  ⏰ Time: 6:00pm (Boys first)

  📍 Location: Neptune Middle School

• Competition Cheer

⏰ Time: 6:00pm

📍 Location: Harmony Middle School

• Leadership Club: No meeting this week
• PBIS: Wednesday at 8:30 with Ms. Carcia
• Math Club: Thursday from 8:30am-9am in the Media Center with Ms. Shashaguay
• SAC & PTO: Tuesday at 5pm

February is Black History month, and we will be sharing information all month via our morning announcements. See below for the individuals we discussed this past week.

• Eatonville, near Orlando, Florida, is one of the first towns in the United States where African Americans could govern themselves, established in 1887. You might have driven right past it if you were heading to Daytona Beach on Interstate 4. It is the hometown of Zora Neale Hurston, a famous author who wrote about the town’s people and culture. Every year, Eatonville hosts a festival to celebrate its history and the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston.

  Zora Neale Hurston was a famous writer who grew up in Eatonville, Florida. She wrote many books and stories about African American life and culture. Zora’s books are read in colleges across the country, and she is celebrated every year with a big festival in her hometown.

• The son of two former slaves, Garrett Morgan had little more than a grade-school education. But that didn’t stop the Ohio man from becoming an inventor with a rare gift for designing machines that saved people’s lives He was an inventor who created the traffic light to help keep cars and people safe on the roads. He also invented a special mask that helped firefighters breathe in smoky places. Garrett Morgan’s inventions made the world a safer place for everyone.

• James Armistead Lafayette was an enslaved African American who helped the American army by being a spy during the Revolutionary War. He gave important information that helped the Americans win a big battle at Yorktown. After the war, he was freed and took the last name “Lafayette” to honor a French leader who helped him. James Armistead Lafayette’s bravery helped America win its freedom.

• Josh Gibson was a famous baseball player who played in the Negro leagues because Black players weren’t allowed in Major League Baseball at that time. He was known for hitting lots of home runs and was one of the best hitters ever. Josh played for teams like the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Even though he never got to play in the major leagues, he is remembered as one of the greatest baseball players in history.

At last weekend’s State Finals:
🏆 Horse Evaluation placed 2nd in the state! --- This group will get recognized on stage at FFA State Convention this summer in front of 6,000 people to receive their award!

• Hope G. - 2nd overall individual <--- this is amazing!!
• Lily S.
• Luke C.
• Callie M.
• Kenley B.

🏆 Livestock Judging placed 6th in the state!

• Reese M.
• Corbyn C.
• Jason A.

• Brodie S.

• Luke C.

🏆 Meat Judging—competing for fun—gave their best effort and gained valuable experience!

These are the best placements our teams have ever achieved during my time teaching agriculture, and I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and hard work.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our program along the way. These students have demonstrated true commitment to learning and excelling in their competitions, and we are so proud to celebrate their success!

Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM at Gateway High School. This is a FREE in-person event! This event is an opportunity for parents, students, and their families to learn about community resources available for individuals with disabilities including financial aid, college, career training, supported living, and much more!

Below are the slides that were shared with all 8th grade students during the assembly and their science classes.